Staff Directory
- Title:
- Associate Head Coach
Brian Dunleavy joined the Wolverines in the role of assistant coach prior to the start of the 2024 season, and earned an associate head coach title in March of 2025.
Dunleavy spent the previous five seasons with Mississippi State University, as an Assistant Coach. Prior to his time in Starkville, he was the head coach at Georgia Southern University for six seasons (2013-18).
At Mississippi State, Dunleavy was responsible for the defensive side of the ball and scouting of future opponents. The 2023 Bulldogs went 12-6-5 overall, allowing only .70 goals/match, with 11 shutouts. The program made a historic run to the NCAA Sweet 16, the 2023 season concluded with the Bulldogs ranked 14th in the nation. For their efforts, the Mississippi State Coaches were awarded United Soccer Coaches Southeast Regional Staff of the Year.
In 2022, Dunleavy's defense finished with the most shutouts in a season (10) in school history. The defense also only allowed 9.7 shots per game this season. The 2022 season also marked the program record in goals-against-average in SEC play, finishing the year with a 0.95 GAA. The Bulldogs went to the 2nd Round of the NCAA Tournament.
In 2021, the defense recorded four shutouts throughout the season, including one in conference play. Dunleavy's defense helped hold opponents to fewer shot attempts and fewer shots on goal than Mississippi State throughout the season. The solid defensive efforts helped the Bulldogs post an impressive 1.19 goals against average despite a rigorous non-conference and SEC schedule.
In addition to organizing and preparing detailed scouting reports for upcoming opponents, Dunleavy also assists in helping create the non-conference schedule. In 2022 he helped Mississippi State reach its second NCAA tournament while finishing the season with an RPI of 33.
During his tenure at Georgia Southern, the Eagles won 41 matches, making him the second-winningest head coach in program history. Dunleavy led the Eagles to the Sun Belt Conference semifinals in 2014 and 2017 and was an assistant when GSU won the Southern Conference tournament in 2012.
His 2014 squad posted the program's best record and highest conference finish since 2002, going 11-6-2 and finishing third. That season, Dunleavy also guided the Eagles to their highest standing in the final RPI at that time, while two players earned first-team all-conference honors and one made the league's second team.
As a head coach, Dunleavy oversaw teams that earned five all-conference selections and four NCSAA/United Soccer Coaches Team Academic Awards. Before being promoted in 2013, he spent two seasons as an assistant for the Eagles.
In that time, the Eagles made their first conference tournament appearance since 2007, won their first conference title, made their first NCAA Tournament appearance and posted their first winning season since 2002.
Dunleavy spent two years coaching at Division II Saint Leo University in Dade City, Florida, where he worked with the men's soccer program. Dunleavy was responsible for opponent scouting and the team's conditioning program. While at Saint Leo, the Lions posted a 15-15 overall record.
Before his time with Saint Leo, Dunleavy was the head men's soccer coach at the College of Mount Saint Vincent, an NCAA Division III institution in the Bronx, New York, where he spent a year directing the Dolphins.
Dunleavy enjoyed a four-year playing career at Hofstra University (1999-02). Following his playing career, he joined the staff at his alma mater as an assistant coach in 2003. He helped the program win back-to-back Colonial Athletic Association Championships, which garnered NCAA Tournament appearances in 2004 and 2005.
He holds an NSCAA National Coaching Diploma and graduated with his Bachelor of Arts in English and American Literature from Hofstra University.
Originally from Levittown, N.Y., he is married to his wife, Janine, and has two sons, Owen and Cole, and a daughter, Mara.
